The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said that the former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has “boxed himself into one of the tightest corners in his political career” over what he described as his refusal or indecision to accept an earlier political olive branch from the All Progressives Congress.
Keyamo, who stated on Sunday, noted that he had “always admired Engr. Mohammed Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso from a distance,” but argued that recent political developments had left the former governor facing a narrowing set of choices ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to him, Kwankwaso presidential ambition is at the centre of his current dilemma. The statement partly read, “Kwankwaso wants to be President, but none of the major political parties will pick him as a candidate in 2027. APC & PDP are going South & ADC’s ticket is Atiku’s to lose.
On the APC option, Keyamo said, “If Kwankwaso decides to pitch a tent with the APC, he is in no position to dictate so many terms to the Party. With the exodus of key figures from NNPP to APC in Kano, the APC’s structure in Kano is now in better standing to challenge the NNPP in 2027.
“The APC is therefore not so desperate for a Kwankwaso in Kano, but would be glad to welcome him into the Party. He remains an asset. But one thing is sure: the APC cannot throw its entire structure in Kano under the bus for a Kwankwaso, especially with the Governor parting ways with him.
“However, the attraction of the APC for him is that the APC still has the national spread and structures to retain power in 2031. So, an APC option for Kwankwaso will also mean a suspension of his Presidential ambition till 2031.” On the Labour Party, he was categorical, stating, “The 2027 Labour Party option for Kwankwaso is narrower because he simply cannot and will not run as Vice-Presidential candidate to Peter Obi. Take that to the bank.
“His own people will not even support him to give a likely fresh 8 years to the South (forget all the noise of ‘I will serve just one term),” Keyamo concluded that Kwankwaso now stands at a critical political juncture with potentially career-defining consequences.